Puddling and apparatus therefor



Jimm W23. I

E. L, FORD.

PUDDLING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR- FILED MAR. 3, 1921. 2 SHEETSSHEET I q Qr! g QB 4 g x w m w Jan. 23, 4923. 4,442,934

' E. L. FORD. PUDDLING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. FILED MAR. 3. 1921 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 v M d w w mi :9 abs/b lm.

Patented w.l'an. 23, 1%2.

EDWARD L. FORD, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

PUDDLING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

Application filed March a, 1921. Serial at. 449,436.

kiln embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line liI-TI of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an end view partly broken away.

My invention has relation to kilns and has been more particularlydesigned to provide a kiln for use in connection with puddling furnaces.In the operation of these furnaces it has been found desirable to addscale or cinder in puddling, this scale or cinder being added hot orcold, and to be supplied rapidly in known quantities. provides simpleand elficient means whereby this may be accomplished.

The'nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which I have shown a preferred embodimentthereof, and which will now be described, it being premised,however,that various changes can be made in the details of construction,arrangement and combination of the several parts, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the accompanyingclaims.

The kiln comprises along cylinder open at its ends and provided on itsinner surface witha helical conveyer. In the construction shown thecylinder consists of an inner lining 2, having a heat insulating jacket3 surrounding it, the conveyer being in the form of a helical rib 41.Instead, however, of the conveyor being a rib which leaves a centralopening axially of the cylinder, it may be a complete helical partition.The cylinder is supported for rotation in any suitable man nor, as uponthe anti-friction rollers 5, and is rotated by any suitable means, suchas the electric motor 6, driving a shaft 7, provided with a pinion 8,which meshes with a gear ring 9 on the exterior of the cylinder. Thecylinder may also be provided with antithrust means, such as the rollers10, jour- My invention naled on a vertical axis and bearing uponopposite faces of one of the bearing rings 11. 12 IS a chute into whichthe open end of the cylinder arranged to discharge and which, in turn,is arranged to discharge into a puddling furnace which is indicatedpartly in dotted lines at 13. The cylinder is preferably supported in aninclined position, being inclined downwardly from its receiving to itsdischarge end. 1 1 designates a gas burner which produces a heatingmedium within the cylinder. The receiving end of the cylinder extendsinto a stack flue 15 which leads to a discharge '1 pipe 16.

The material to be fed to the puddling furnace can be placed in thereceiving end of the kiln either by hand. or by any sultable feedingmeans. shown a supply hopper 17 which is arranged to discharge into ameasuring wheel 18, which, in turn, delivers the material to a chute 19,the lower end of which is arranged to discharge into the receiving endof the kiln. The measuring wheel may be rotated by any suitable means,such as the gear connections 20 and 21, with the shaft 7 of the motor 6.

In the operation a definite amount of the material is introduced intothe cylinder at each revolution, care being taken that the material inthe cylinder shall not extend above the height of the helicalconveyerrib. By this means at each revolution of the material is heated as itpasses through the kiln. By gearing the feeding device to the kiln thefeeding operations may betimed with the rotations of the kiln.

As the temperature of the material is never required to be very high, itis preferred that the interior lining of the kiln shall be of metal.This has the advantage of enabling the material to be delivered to thepuddling furnace free of any substance which might be broken from thelining, such as pieces of fire brick, andwhich if lncorporated in apuddling ball would ruin such ball.

I claim:

1. The combination with a puddling furnace, of a reagent heating devicecooperating with the puddling furnace and a1- Tn the drawing T have 75ranged to discharge regulated amounts of reagents into the furnace,substantially as described.

2. The combination With a puddling fur nace, of a feeding apparatuscooperating therewith, said apparatus being of the retary kiln type andarranged to discharge regulated amounts of a reagent into the puddlingfurnace, substantially as described.

3. In the manufacture of Wrought iron, the step consisting of feedinginto the puddle bath a regulated amount of a reagent and continuing thepuddling operation, substantially as described.

4. In the manufacture of wrought iron, the step consisting of feeding aregulated amount of slag cinder into the puddle bath at an intermediatestage of the puddling op eration, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 20 my hand.

EDWARD L. FORD.

